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Catholic PRWire

For More Information:
Monica Fitzgibbons, 602-999-2697 or
monica@DeMontfortMusic.com; or
Kevin Wandra, 678-990-9032 or
KWandra@MaximusMG.com

The heavenly sounds of ADVENT AT EPHESUS opening eyes and hearts toward Heaven

ATLANTA, GA (December 27, 2012) – ADVENT AT EPHESUS, the Advent album from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, has a firm grip on the No. 1 spot on Billboard magazine’s Classical Traditional Music Chart for an impressive fifth straight week, putting the singing nuns on pace to become the bestselling new classical music act of 2012. The Benedictines of Mary have kept their lofty standing on the chart, despite recent classical album releases from Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Fifty Shades of Grey Classical, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Once Upon a Christmas, and the London Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas Classics. The CD has had a tremendous and lasting impact on numerous listeners.

“It has been wondrous to hear the many testimonies of those who have found comfort and joy during Advent and Christmas by listening to the ethereal sounds of ADVENT AT EPHESUS. We have heard from anyone from a parent of a severely autistic young man who has found soothing calm by listening to the peaceful music on this collection; to a young woman who found stillness and consolation during chemotherapy while listening. Still others have been listening during their last moments of this life, and others while giving birth. For so many already, this music has undoubtedly inspired tranquility and uplifted hearts and for that we are truly humbled and grateful!” said Monica Fitzgibbons, co-founder of De Montfort Music.

Since its Nov. 20 worldwide debut from De Montfort Music and Decca Records, ADVENT AT EPHESUS has blessed the world with the sacred and sublime music of a hidden and contemplative religious order tucked away on Missouri’s rural countryside. Hidden in prayer and sacrifice, their music now is available worldwide. In addition to the CD, the album is available as a digital download for all devices at a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the iTunes Store.

ADVENT AT EPHESUS has received praise from numerous Catholic leaders and has crossed over into secular media outlets.

@USCCB praises the new album: for the musical selection including "Praeparate Corda Vestra, which I never heard until the Benedictine Srs album ‘Advent at Ephesus’ (amazon.com/Advent-Ephesus…) “Love it.”

Daniel Lord, editor of Catholic Exchange, called the CD “the most moving Advent collection I've ever heard.”

American Public Media’s “Performance Today” calls Advent at Ephesus “remarkable,” and has featured the recording twice on their program in December, with additional music having aired on Christmas Day. Hailed as one of America's most popular classical music radio programs, the show has more than 1.3 million weekly listeners, and is heard on more than 260 stations around the country. To find stations carrying the program, click here http://performancetoday.org/stations.

USA Today ran a feature on Christmas Eve stating, “For the past month, the world of classical music has seen fewer shades of grey and more black and white.”

People Magazine recently featured the Nuns on their “People Pinboard” page which highlights “celebrity news, photos and trends” in their December 17th issue, noting Advent for Ephesus “outsells Fifty Shades of Grey: The Classical Album.”

The Washington Times pre-Christmas review declared of Advent at Ephesus “their album, (is) an oasis of serenity in a dissonant world.”

The Salt Lake Tribune says the disc is “divinely beautiful,” while The St. Louis Post-Dispatch aptly notes the album is “quietly cutting through the blare and noise of commercial Christmas” and “an ideal remedy for jingle-itis.”

Zenit honored the music by calling it “A CD that has debuted at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Traditional Classical Music Chart provides, as it were, a backdrop to (sic) images of Our Lady.”

Jean Heimann, Catholic Fire blogger, says: “The Benedictine nuns voices are crystal clear and so beautiful; the music captures the spirit of Advent, as it is very meditative and uplifting, containing a heavenly peace that you don't hear in secular music.”

About the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

Founded in 1995, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, are a young, monastic order of religious sisters. United with Our Lady at the foot of the Cross; the sisters seek, above all else, a life of union with God in prayer as guided by the Rule of St. Benedict. They pray and sacrifice especially for the sanctification of priests. The Sisters sing together eight times a day as they chant the Divine Office in Latin. Along with the making of priestly vestments and sacred linens, the Benedictines of ...